§ 1001.42 — Powers and duties of district school board

Florida § 1001.42

• Jurisdiction: Florida
• Title: XLVIII
• Ch. 1001: EARLY LEARNING-20 GOVERNANCE

Text

The district school board, acting as a board, shall exercise all powers and perform all duties listed below:

(1) REQUIRE MINUTES AND RECORDS TO BE KEPT. — Require the district school superintendent, as secretary, to keep such minutes and records as are necessary to set forth clearly all actions and proceedings of the school board. (a) Minutes, recording. — The minutes of each meeting shall be reviewed, corrected if necessary, and approved at the next regular meeting, provided that this action may be taken at an intervening special meeting if the district school board desires. The minutes shall be kept as a public record in a permanent location. (b) Minutes, contents. — The minutes shall show the vote of each member present on all matters on which the district school board takes action. It shall be the duty of each member to see to it that both the matter and his or her vote thereon are properly recorded in the minutes. Unless otherwise shown by the minutes, it shall be presumed that the vote of each member present supported any action taken by the district school board in either the exercise of, violation of, or neglect of the powers and duties imposed upon the district school board by law or rule, whether such action is recorded in the minutes or is otherwise established. It shall also be presumed that the policies, appointments, programs, and expenditures not recorded in the minutes but made and actually in effect in the district school system were made and put into effect at the direction of the district school board, unless it can be shown that they were done without the actual or constructive knowledge of the members of the district school board.

(2) CONTROL PROPERTY. — Subject to rules of the State Board of Education, control property and convey the title to real and personal property.

(3) ADOPT SCHOOL PROGRAM. — Adopt a school program for the entire school district.

(4) ESTABLISHMENT, ORGANIZATION, AND OPERATION OF SCHOOLS. — Adopt and provide for the execution of plans for the establishment, organization, and operation of the schools of the district, including, but not limited to, the following: (a) Schools and enrollment plans. — Establish schools and adopt enrollment plans that may include school attendance areas and open enrollment provisions. (b) Elimination of school centers and consolidation of schools. — Provide for the elimination of school centers and the consolidation of schools. (c) Adequate educational facilities for all children without tuition. — Provide adequate educational facilities for all children without payment of tuition. (d) Cooperate with school boards of adjoining districts in maintaining schools. — Approve plans for cooperating with school boards of adjoining districts in this state or in adjoining states for establishing school attendance areas composed of territory lying within the districts and for the joint maintenance of district-line schools or other schools which are to serve those attendance areas. The conditions of such cooperation shall be as follows: 1. Establishment. — The establishment of a school to serve attendance areas lying in more than one district and the plans for maintaining the school and providing educational services to students shall be effected by annual resolutions spread upon the minutes of each district school board concerned, which resolutions shall set out the territorial limits of the areas from which children are to attend the school and the plan to be followed in maintaining and operating the school. 2. Control. — Control of the school or schools involved shall be vested in the district school board of the district in which the school or schools are located unless otherwise agreed by the district school boards. 3. Settlement of disagreements. — In the event an agreement cannot be reached relating to such attendance areas or to the school or schools therein, the matter may be referred jointly by the cooperating district school boards or by either district school board to the Department of Education for decision under rules of the State Board of Education, and its decision shall be binding on both school boards. (e) Classification and standardization of schools. — Provide for the classification and standardization of schools. (f) Opening and closing of schools; fixing uniform date; middle school and high school start times. — Adopt policies for the opening and closing of schools, fix uniform dates, and middle school and high school start times. 1. The opening date for schools in the district may not be earlier than August 10 of each year. 2. By July 1, 2026, the instructional day for middle schools may not begin earlier than 8 a.m. and the instructional day for high schools may not begin earlier than 8:30 a.m. Each district school board must inform its community, including parents, students, teachers, school administrators, athletic coaches, and other stakeholders, about the health, safety, and academic impacts of sleep deprivation on middle school and high school students and the benefits of a later school start time and discuss local strategies to successfully implement the later school start times. 3. A district school board shall be deemed in compliance with the requirements of subparagraph 2. if the district school board submits to the department, by June 1, 2026, a report, in a format prescribed by the department, that includes, at a minimum, all of the following: a. The start times of elementary, middle, and high schools in the school district. b. Documentation of strategies considered to implement a later school start time for middle schools and high schools within the school district, including the number of board meetings, public hearings, and opportunities for parent input to discuss the strategies. c. A description of the impact of implementing the school start time requirements in subparagraph 2., including the financial impact for the school district. d. Identified unintended consequences to the school district, students, and the community by implementing the school start time requirements in subparagraph 2. (g) Observance of school holidays and vacation periods. — Designate the observance of school holidays and vacation periods. (h) Career classes and schools. — Provide for the establishment and maintenance of career schools, departments, or classes, giving instruction in career education as defined by rules of the State Board of Education, and use any moneys raised by public taxation in the same manner as moneys for other school purposes are used for the maintenance and support of public schools or classes. (i) District school boards may establish public evening schools. — Have the authority to establish public evening schools. (j) Cooperate with other agencies in joint projects. — Cooperate with other agencies in joint projects. (k) Planning time for teachers. — May adopt rules for planning time for teachers in accordance with the provisions of chapter 1012. (l) Exceptional students. — Provide for an appropriate program of special instruction, facilities, and services for exceptional students as prescribed by the State Board of Education as acceptable in accordance with the provisions of s. 1003.57. (m) Alternative education programs for students in residential care facilities. — Provide, in accordance with the provisions of s. 1003.58, educational programs according to rules of the State Board of Education to students who reside in residential care facilities operated by the Department of Children and Families. (n) Educational services in detention facilities. — In accordance with the provisions of chapter 1006, offer services to students in detention facilities.

(5) PERSONNEL. — (a) Designate positions to be filled, prescribe qualifications for those positions, and provide for the appointment, compensation, promotion, suspension, and dismissal of employees, subject to the requirements of chapter 1012. A district school board is encouraged to provide clerical personnel or volunteers who are not classroom teachers to assist teachers in noninstructional activities, including performing paperwork and recordkeeping duties. However, a teacher shall remain responsible for all instructional activities and for classroom management and grading student performance. (b) Notwithstanding s. 1012.55 or any other provision of law or rule to the contrary and consistent with adopted district school board policy relating to alternative certification for school principals, have the authority to appoint persons to the position of school principal who do not hold educator certification.

(6) STANDARDS OF ETHICAL CONDUCT. — Adopt policies establishing standards of ethical conduct for educational support employees, instructional personnel, administrative personnel, and school officers. The policies must require all educational support employees, instructional personnel, administrative personnel, and school officers, as defined in s. 1012.01, to complete training on the standards; establish the duty of educational support employees, instructional personnel, administrative personnel, and school officers to report, and procedures for reporting, alleged misconduct by other educational support employees, instructional or administrative personnel, and school officers which affects the health, safety, or welfare of a student, including misconduct that involves engaging in or soliciting sexual, romantic, or lewd conduct with a student; require the district school superintendent to report to law enforcement misconduct by educational support employees, instructional personnel, or school administrators that would result in disqualification from educator certification or employment as provided in s. 1012.315; and include an explanation of the liability protections provided under ss. 39.203 and 768.095. A district school board, or any of its employees or personnel, may not enter into a confidentiality agreement regarding terminated or dismissed educational support employees, instructional or administrative personnel, or school officers who resign in lieu of termination, based in whole or in part on misconduct that affects the health, safety, or welfare of a student, and may not provide educational support employees, instructional personnel, administrative personnel, or school officers with employment references or discuss the employees’, personnel’s, or officers’ performance with prospective employers in another educational setting, without disclosing the employees’, personnel’s, or officers’ misconduct. Any part of an agreement or contract that has the purpose or effect of concealing misconduct by educational support employees, instructional personnel, administrative personnel, or school officers which affects the health, safety, or welfare of a student is void, is contrary to public policy, and may not be enforced.

(7) PROHIBITION FROM EMPLOYMENT. — Prohibit educational support employees, instructional personnel, and administrative personnel, as defined in s. 1012.01, from employment in any position that requires direct contact with students if the employees or personnel are ineligible for such employment under s. 1012.315 or have been terminated or have resigned in lieu of termination for sexual misconduct with a student. If the prohibited conduct occurs while employed, the district school board must report the employees or personnel and the disqualifying circumstances to the department for inclusion on the disqualification list maintained by the department pursuant to s. 1001.10(4)(b). An elected or appointed school board official forfeits his or her salary for 1 year if: (a) The school board official knowingly signs and transmits to any state official a report of alleged misconduct by educational support employees, instructional personnel, or administrative personnel which the school board official knows to be false or incorrect; or (b) The school board official knowingly fails to adopt policies that require: 1. Educational support employees, instructional personnel, and administrative personnel to report alleged misconduct by other educational support employees, instructional personnel, and administrative personnel; 2. The district school superintendent to report misconduct by educational support employees, instructional personnel, or school administrators that would result in disqualification from educator certification or employment as provided in s. 1012.315 to the law enforcement agencies with jurisdiction over the conduct; or 3. The investigation of all reports of alleged misconduct by educational support employees, instructional personnel, and administrative personnel, if the misconduct affects the health, safety, or welfare of a student, regardless of whether the person resigned or was terminated before the conclusion of the investigation. The policies must require the district school superintendent to notify the department of the result of the investigation and whether the misconduct warranted termination, regardless of whether the person resigned or was terminated before the conclusion of the investigation.

(8) STUDENT WELFARE. — (a) In accordance with the provisions of chapters 1003 and 1006, provide for the proper accounting for all students of school age, for the attendance and control of students at school, and for proper attention to health, safety, and other matters relating to the welfare of students. (b) In accordance with the provisions of ss. 1003.31 and 1003.32, fully support the authority of each teacher and school bus driver to remove disobedient, disrespectful, violent, abusive, uncontrollable, or disruptive students from the classroom and the school bus and the authority of the school board to place such students in an alternative educational setting, when appropriate and available. (c)1. In accordance with the rights of parents enumerated in ss. 1002.20 and 1014.04, adopt procedures for notifying a student’s parent if there is a change in the student’s services or monitoring related to the student’s mental, emotional, or physical health or well-being and the school’s ability to provide a safe and supportive learning environment for the student. The procedures must reinforce the fundamental right of parents to make decisions regarding the upbringing and control of their children by requiring school district personnel to encourage a student to discuss issues relating to his or her well-being with his or her parent or to facilitate discussion of the issue with the parent. The procedures may not prohibit parents from accessing any of their student’s education and health records created, maintained, or used by the school district, as required by s. 1002.22(2). 2. A school district may not adopt procedures or student support forms that prohibit school district personnel from notifying a parent about his or her student’s mental, emotional, or physical health or well-being, or a change in related services or monitoring, or that encourage or have the effect of encouraging a student to withhold from a parent such information. School district personnel may not discourage or prohibit parental notification of and involvement in critical decisions affecting a student’s mental, emotional, or physical health or well-being. This subparagraph does not prohibit a school district from adopting procedures that permit school personnel to withhold such information from a parent if a reasonably prudent person would believe that disclosure would result in abuse, abandonment, or neglect, as those terms are defined in s. 39.01. 3. Classroom instruction by school personnel or third parties on sexual orientation or gender identity may not occur in prekindergarten through grade 8, except when required by ss. 1003.42(2)(o)3. and 1003.46. If such instruction is provided in grades 9 through 12, the instruction must be age-appropriate or developmentally appropriate for students in accordance with state standards. This subparagraph applies to charter schools. 4. Student support services training developed or provided by a school district to school district personnel must adhere to student services guidelines, standards, and frameworks established by the Department of Education. 5. At the beginning of the school year, each school district shall notify parents of each health care service offered at their student’s school and the option to withhold consent or decline any specific service in accordance with s. 1014.06. Parental consent to a health care service does not waive the parent’s right to access his or her student’s educational or health records or to be notified about a change in his or her student’s services or monitoring as provided by this paragraph. 6. Before administering a student well-being questionnaire or health screening form to a student in kindergarten through grade 3, the school district must provide the questionnaire or health screening form to the parent and obtain the permission of the parent. 7. Each school district shall adopt procedures for a parent to notify the principal, or his or her designee, regarding concerns under this paragraph at his or her student’s school and the process for resolving those concerns within 7 calendar days after notification by the parent. a. At a minimum, the procedures must require that within 30 days after notification by the parent that the concern remains unresolved, the school district must either resolve the concern or provide a statement of the reasons for not resolving the concern. b. If a concern is not resolved by the school district, a parent may: (I) Request the Commissioner of Education to appoint a special magistrate who is a member of The Florida Bar in good standing and who has at least 5 years’ experience in administrative law. The special magistrate shall determine facts relating to the dispute over the school district procedure or practice, consider information provided by the school district, and render a recommended decision for resolution to the State Board of Education within 30 days after receipt of the request by the parent. The State Board of Education must approve or reject the recommended decision at its next regularly scheduled meeting that is more than 7 calendar days and no more than 30 days after the date the recommended decision is transmitted. The costs of the special magistrate shall be borne by the school district. The State Board of Education shall adopt rules, including forms, necessary to implement this subparagraph. (II) Bring an action against the school district to obtain a declaratory judgment that the school district procedure or practice violates this paragraph and seek injunctive relief. A court may award damages and shall award reasonable attorney fees and court costs to a parent who receives declaratory or injunctive relief. c. Each school district shall adopt and post on its website policies to notify parents of the procedures required under this subparagraph. d. Nothing contained in this subparagraph shall be construed to abridge or alter rights of action or remedies in equity already existing under the common law or general law.

(9) COURSES OF STUDY AND OTHER INSTRUCTIONAL MATERIALS. — Provide adequate instructional materials for all students in accordance with the requirements of chapter 1006.

(10) TRANSPORTATION OF STUDENTS. — After considering recommendations of the district school superintendent, make provision for the transportation of students to the public schools or school activities they are required or expected to attend; authorize transportation routes arranged efficiently and economically; provide the necessary transportation facilities, and, when authorized under rules of the State Board of Education and if more economical to do so, provide limited subsistence in lieu thereof; and adopt the necessary rules and regulations to ensure safety, economy, and efficiency in the operation of all buses, as prescribed in chapter 1006.

(11) SCHOOL PLANT. — Approve plans for locating, planning, constructing, sanitating, insuring, maintaining, protecting, and condemning school property as prescribed in chapter 1013 and as follows: (a) School building program. — Approve and adopt a districtwide school building program. (b) Sites, buildings, and equipment. — 1. Select and purchase school sites, playgrounds, and recreational areas located at centers at which schools are to be constructed, of adequate size to meet the needs of projected students to be accommodated. 2. Approve the proposed purchase of any site, playground, or recreational area for which district funds are to be used. 3. Expand existing sites. 4. Rent buildings when necessary. 5. Enter into leases or lease-purchase arrangements, in accordance with the requirements and conditions provided in s. 1013.15(2), with private individuals or corporations for the rental of necessary grounds and educational facilities for school purposes or of educational facilities to be erected for school purposes. Current or other funds authorized by law may be used to make payments under a lease-purchase agreement. Notwithstanding any other statutes, if the rental is to be paid from funds received from ad valorem taxation and the agreement is for a period greater than 12 months, an approving referendum must be held. The provisions of such contracts, including building plans, shall be subject to approval by the Department of Education, and no such contract shall be entered into without such approval. As used in this section, “educational facilities” means the buildings and equipment that are built, installed, or established to serve educational purposes and that may lawfully be used. The State Board of Education may adopt such rules as are necessary to implement these provisions. 6. Provide for the proper supervision of construction. 7. Make or contract for additions, alterations, and repairs on buildings and other school properties. 8. Ensure that all plans and specifications for buildings provide adequately for the safety and well-being of students, as well as for economy of construction. (c) Maintenance and upkeep of school plant. — Provide adequately for the proper maintenance and upkeep of school plants, so that students may attend school without sanitary or physical hazards, and provide for the necessary heat, lights, water, power, and other supplies and utilities necessary for the operation of the schools. (d) Insurance of school property. — Carry insurance on every school building in all school plants including contents, boilers, and machinery, except buildings of three classrooms or less that are of frame construction and located in a tenth class public protection zone as defined by the Florida Inspection and Rating Bureau, and on all school buses and other property under the control of the district school board or title to which is vested in the district school board, except as exceptions may be authorized under rules of the State Board of Education. (e) Condemnation of buildings. — Condemn and prohibit the use for public school purposes of any building that can be shown for sanitary or other reasons to be no longer suitable for such use and, when any building is condemned by any state or other government agency as authorized in chapter 1013, see that it is no longer used for school purposes.

(12) FINANCE. — Take steps to assure students adequate educational facilities through the financial procedure authorized in chapters 1010 and 1011 and as prescribed below: (a) Provide for all schools to operate 180 days. — Provide for the operation of all public schools, both elementary and secondary, as free schools for a term of 180 days or the equivalent on an hourly basis as specified by rules of the State Board of Education; determine district school funds necessary in addition to state funds to operate all schools for such minimum term; and arrange for the levying of district school taxes necessary to provide the amount needed from district sources. (b) Annual budget. — 1. Cause to be prepared, adopt, and have submitted to the Department of Education as required by law and rules of the State Board of Education, the annual school budget, such budget to be so prepared and executed as to promote the improvement of the district school system. 2. An individual school board member may request and shall receive any proposed, tentative, and official budget documents, including all supporting and background information. (c) Tax levies. — Adopt and spread on its minutes a resolution fixing the district school tax levy, provided for under s. 9, Art. VII of the State Constitution, necessary to carry on the school program adopted for the district for the next ensuing fiscal year as required by law, and fixing the district bond interest and sinking fund tax levy necessary for districts against which bonds are outstanding; and adopt and spread on its minutes a resolution suggesting the tax levy provided for in s. 9, Art. VII of the State Constitution, found necessary to carry on the school program adopted for the district for the next ensuing fiscal year. (d) School funds. — Require that an accurate account is kept of all funds that should be transmitted to the district school board for school purposes at various periods during the year from all sources and, if any funds are not transmitted promptly, take the necessary steps to have such funds made available. (e) Borrow money. — Borrow money, as prescribed in ss. 1011.12-1011.16, when necessary in anticipation of funds reasonably to be expected during the year as shown by the budget. (f) Financial records and accounts. — Provide for keeping of accurate records of all financial transactions. (g) Approval and payment of accounts. — Implement a system of accounting and budgetary control to ensure that payments do not exceed amounts budgeted, as required by law; make available all records for proper audit by state officials or independent certified public accountants; and have prepared required periodic statements to be filed with the Department of Education as provided by rules of the State Board of Education. (h) Bonds of employees. — Fix and prescribe the bonds, and pay the premium on all such bonds, of all school employees who are responsible for school funds in order to provide reasonable safeguards for all such funds or property. (i) Contracts for materials, supplies, and services. — Contract for materials, supplies, and services needed for the district school system. No contract for supplying these needs shall be made with any member of the district school board, with the district school superintendent, or with any business organization in which any district school board member or the district school superintendent has any financial interest whatsoever. (j) Purchasing regulations to be secured from Department of Management Services. — Secure purchasing regulations and amendments and changes thereto from the Department of Management Services and prior to any purchase have reported to it by its staff, and give consideration to the lowest price available to it under such regulations, provided a regulation applicable to the item or items being purchased has been adopted by the department. The department should meet with educational administrators to expand the inventory of standard items for common usage in all schools and postsecondary educational institutions. (k) Protection against loss. — Provide for adequate protection against any loss or damage to school property or loss resulting from any liability for which the district school board or its officers, agents, or employees may be responsible under law. In fulfilling this responsibility, the district school board may purchase insurance, to be self-insured, to enter into risk management programs managed by district school boards, school-related associations, or insurance companies, or to have any combination thereof in any area to the extent the district school board is either authorized or required by law to contract for insurance. Any risk management program entered into pursuant to this subsection shall provide for strict accountability of all funds to the member district school boards and an annual audit by an independent certified public accountant of all receipts and disbursements. (l) Internal auditor. — May or, in the case of a school district receiving annual federal, state, and local funds in excess of $500 million, shall employ an internal auditor. The scope of the internal auditor shall not be restricted and shall include every functional and program area of the school system. 1. The internal auditor shall perform ongoing financial verification of the financial records of the school district, a comprehensive risk assessment of all areas of the school system every 5 years, and other audits and reviews as the district school board directs for determining: a. The adequacy of internal controls designed to prevent and detect fraud, waste, and abuse as defined in s. 11.45(1). b. Compliance with applicable laws, rules, contracts, grant agreements, district school board-approved policies, and best practices. c. The efficiency of operations. d. The reliability of financial records and reports. e. The safeguarding of assets. f. Financial solvency. g. Projected revenues and expenditures. h. The rate of change in the general fund balance. 2. The internal auditor shall prepare audit reports of his or her findings and report directly to the district school board or its designee. 3. Any person responsible for furnishing or producing any book, record, paper, document, data, or sufficient information necessary to conduct a proper audit or examination which the internal auditor is by law authorized to perform is subject to the provisions of s. 11.47(3) and (4). (m) Financial and performance audits. — In addition to the audits required by ss. 11.45 and 218.39, may contract with an independent certified public accountant to conduct a financial or performance audit of its accounts and records retained by it and paid from its public funds.

(13) RECORDS AND REPORTS. — Provide for the keeping of all necessary records and the making of all needed or required reports, as follows: (a) Forms, blanks, and reports. — Require all employees to keep accurately all records and to make promptly in the proper form all reports required by law or by rules of the State Board of Education. (b) Reports to the department. — Require that the district school superintendent prepare all reports to the Department of Education that may be required by law or rules of the State Board of Education; see that all such reports are promptly transmitted to the department; withhold the further payment of salary to the superintendent or employee when notified by the department that he or she has failed to file any report within the time or in the manner prescribed; and continue to withhold the salary until the district school board is notified by the department that such report has been received and accepted, provided that when any report has not been received by the date due and after due notice has been given to the district school board of that fact, the department, if it deems necessary, may require the report to be prepared by a member of its staff, and the district school board shall pay all expenses connected therewith. Any member of the district school board who is responsible for the violation of this provision is subject to suspension and removal. (c) Reports to parents. — Require that, at regular intervals, reports are made by school principals or teachers to parents, apprising them of the progress being made by the students in their studies and giving other needful information.

(14) COOPERATION WITH OTHER DISTRICT SCHOOL BOARDS. — May establish and participate in educational consortia that are designed to provide joint programs and services to cooperating school districts, consistent with the provisions of s. 4(b), Art. IX of the State Constitution. The State Board of Education shall adopt rules providing for the establishment, funding, administration, and operation of such consortia.

(15) ENFORCEMENT OF LAW AND RULES. — Require that all laws and rules of the State Board of Education or of the district school board are properly enforced.

(16) SCHOOL LUNCH PROGRAM. — Assume such responsibilities and exercise such powers and perform such duties as may be assigned to it by law or as may be required by rules of the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services or, as in the opinion of the district school board, are necessary to ensure school lunch services, consistent with needs of students; effective and efficient operation of the program; and the proper articulation of the school lunch program with other phases of education in the district.

(17) PUBLIC INFORMATION AND PARENTAL INVOLVEMENT PROGRAM. — (a) Adopt procedures whereby the general public can be adequately informed of the educational programs, needs, and objectives of public education within the district, including educational opportunities available through the Florida Virtual School. (b) Adopt rules to strengthen family involvement and empowerment pursuant to s. 1002.23. The rules shall be developed in collaboration with administrative personnel, parents, teachers, and community partners. (c) Develop and disseminate a parent guide to successful student achievement which addresses what parents need to know about their child’s educational progress and how they can help their child to succeed in school. (d) Develop and disseminate a checklist for parents to assist parents in becoming involved in their child’s educational progress. (e) Encourage teachers and administrators to keep parents informed of student progress, student programs, student attendance requirements pursuant to ss. 1003.26, 1003.27, 414.1251, and 984.151, and availability of resources for academic assistance.

(18) IMPLEMENT SCHOOL IMPROVEMENT AND ACCOUNTABILITY. — Maintain a system of school improvement and education accountability as provided by statute and State Board of Education rule. This system of school improvement and education accountability shall be consistent with, and implemented through, the district’s continuing system of planning and budgeting required by this section and ss. 1008.385, 1010.01, and 1011.01. This system of school improvement and education accountability shall comply with the provisions of ss. 1008.33, 1008.34, 1008.345, and 1008.385 and include the following: (a) School improvement plans. — The district school board shall annually approve and require implementation of a new, amended, or continuation school improvement plan for each school in the district which has a school grade of “D” or “F”; has a significant gap in achievement on statewide, standardized assessments administered pursuant to s. 1008.22 by one or more student subgroups, as defined in the federal Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA), 20 U.S.C. s. 6311(b)(2)(C)(v)(II); has not significantly increased the percentage of students passing statewide, standardized assessments; has not significantly increased the percentage of students demonstrating Learning Gains, as defined in s. 1008.34 and as calculated under s. 1008.34(3)(b), who passed statewide, standardized assessments; has been identified as requiring instructional supports under the Reading Achievement Initiative for Scholastic Excellence program established in s. 1008.365; or has significantly lower graduation rates for a subgroup when compared to the state’s graduation rate. The improvement plan of a school that meets the requirements of this paragraph shall include strategies for improving these results. The state board shall adopt rules establishing thresholds and for determining compliance with this paragraph. (b) Early warning system. — 1. A school that serves any students in kindergarten through grade 8 shall implement an early warning system to identify students in such grades who need additional support to improve academic performance and stay engaged in school. The early warning system must include the following early warning indicators: a. Attendance below 90 percent, regardless of whether absence is excused or a result of out-of-school suspension. b. One or more suspensions, whether in school or out of school. c. Course failure in English Language Arts or mathematics during any grading period. d. A Level 1 score on the statewide, standardized assessments in English Language Arts or mathematics. e. For students in kindergarten through grade 3, a substantial reading deficiency under s. 1008.25(5)(a) or, for students in kindergarten through grade 4, a substantial mathematics deficiency under s. 1008.25(6)(a). A school district may identify additional early warning indicators for use in a school’s early warning system. The system must include data on the number of students identified by the system as exhibiting two or more early warning indicators, the number of students by grade level who exhibit each early warning indicator, and a description of all intervention strategies employed by the school to improve the academic performance of students identified by the early warning system. 2. A school-based team responsible for implementing the requirements of this paragraph shall monitor the data from the early warning system. The team may include a school psychologist. When a student exhibits two or more early warning indicators, the team, in consultation with the student’s parent, shall determine appropriate intervention strategies for the student unless the student is already being served by an intervention program at the direction of a school-based, multidisciplinary team. Data and information relating to a student’s early warning indicators must be used to inform any intervention strategies provided to the student. (c) Public disclosure. — The district school board shall provide information regarding the performance of students and educational programs as required pursuant to ss. 1008.22 and 1008.385 and implement a system of school reports as required by statute and State Board of Education rule which shall include schools operating for the purpose of providing educational services to students in Department of Juvenile Justice programs. Annual public disclosure reports shall be in an easy-to-read report card format and shall include the school’s grade, high school graduation rate calculated without high school equivalency examinations, disaggregated by student ethnicity, and performance data as specified in state board rule. (d) School improvement funds. — The district school board shall provide funds to schools for developing and implementing school improvement plans. Such funds shall include those funds appropriated for the purpose of school improvement pursuant to s. 24.121(5)(c).

(19) LOCAL-LEVEL DECISIONMAKING. — (a) Adopt policies that clearly encourage and enhance maximum decisionmaking appropriate to the school site. Such policies must include guidelines for schools in the adoption and purchase of district and school site instructional materials and technology, the implementation of student health and fitness standards, staff training, school advisory council member training, student support services, budgeting, and the allocation of staff resources. (b) Adopt waiver process policies to enable all schools to exercise maximum flexibility and notify advisory councils of processes to waive school district and state policies. (c) Develop policies for periodically monitoring the membership composition of school advisory councils to ensure compliance with requirements established in s. 1001.452. (d) Adopt policies that assist in giving greater autonomy, including authority over the allocation of the school’s budget, to schools designated with a grade of “A,” making excellent progress, and schools rated as having improved at least two grades.

(20) OPPORTUNITY SCHOLARSHIPS. — Adopt policies allowing students attending schools that have earned a grade of “F” or three consecutive grades of “D” pursuant to s. 1008.34 to attend a higher-performing school in the district or any other district in the state, in conformance with s. 1002.38 and State Board of Education rule.

(21) EDUCATIONAL EMERGENCY. — To free schools with a school grade of “D” or “F” from contract restrictions that limit the school’s ability to implement programs and strategies needed to improve student performance, a district school board may adopt salary incentives or other strategies that address the selection, placement, compensation, and expectations of instructional personnel and provide principals with the autonomy described in s. 1012.28(8). For purposes of this subsection, an educational emergency exists in a school district if one or more schools in the district have a school grade of “D” or “F.” Notwithstanding chapter 447, relating to collective bargaining, a district school board may: (a) Provide salary incentives that differentiate based on a teacher’s certification, subject area taught, or grade level taught. Such incentives are not subject to collective bargaining requirements. (b) Notwithstanding s. 1012.2315, relating to assignment of teachers, adopt strategies to assign high-quality teachers more equitably across schools in the district to low-performing schools as a management right. Such strategies are not subject to collective bargaining requirements.

(22) SCHOOL-WITHIN-A-SCHOOL. — In order to reduce the anonymity of students in large schools, adopt policies to encourage any large school to subdivide into schools-within-a-school that shall operate within existing resources in accordance with the provisions of chapter 1003.

(23) VIRTUAL INSTRUCTION. — Provide students with access to courses available through a virtual instruction program option, including the Florida Virtual School and other approved providers, and award credit for successful completion of such courses.

(24) EMPLOYMENT CONTRACTS. — (a) If a school district enters into a contract or employment agreement, or renewal or renegotiation of an existing contract or employment agreement, with an officer, agent, employee, or contractor which contains a provision for severance pay, the contract or employment agreement must include the provisions of s. 215.425. (b) A district school board may not award an annual contract on the basis of any contingency or condition not expressly authorized in law by the Legislature or alter or limit its authority to award or not award an annual contract as provided in s. 1012.335. This paragraph applies only to a collective bargaining agreement entered into or renewed by a district school board on or after June 15, 2017.

(25) INTERLOCAL AGREEMENTS. — Each district school board shall enter into an interlocal agreement as provided in s. 163.01 for the purpose of establishing the School District Consortium and maximizing the purchasing power for goods and services. A consortium may be statewide or regional, as appropriate to achieve the lowest cost. This subsection does not prohibit a district school board from utilizing a state contract.

(26) TECHNICAL CENTER GOVERNING BOARD. — May appoint a governing board for a school district technical center or a system of technical centers for the purpose of aligning the educational programs of the technical center with the needs of local businesses and responding quickly to the needs of local businesses for employees holding industry certifications. A technical center governing board shall be comprised of seven members, three of whom must be members of the district school board or their designees and four of whom must be local business leaders. The district school board shall delegate to the technical center governing board decisions regarding entrance requirements for students, curriculum, program development, budget and funding allocations, and the development with local businesses of partnership agreements and appropriate industry certifications in order to meet local and regional economic needs. A technical center governing board may approve only courses and programs that contain industry certifications. A course may be continued if at least 25 percent of the students enrolled in the course attain an industry certification. If fewer than 25 percent of the students enrolled in a course attain an industry certification, the course must be discontinued the following year.

(27) VISITATION OF SCHOOLS. — Visit the schools, observe the management and instruction, give suggestions for improvement, and advise citizens with the view of promoting interest in education and improving the schools.

(28) UNACCOMPANIED HOMELESS YOUTH. — Provide to each student who is an unaccompanied homeless youth certified under s. 743.067 a card that includes information on the rights and benefits for such youth, as well as the contact information for the school district’s liaison for homeless children and youths. The card must be similar in size to the student identification card issued to students in the district and include all of the following information: (a) On the front of the card, the following information from the standardized form developed by the Department of Children and Families under s. 743.067(3): 1. The circumstances that qualify the youth. 2. The date the youth was certified. 3. The name, title, and signature of the certifying individual. (b) On the back of the card, the following statement: Section 743.067, Florida Statutes, provides that this certified youth may consent to medical care; dental care; behavioral health care services, including psychological counseling and treatment, psychiatric treatment, and substance abuse prevention and treatment services; and surgical diagnosis and treatment, including preventative care and care by a facility licensed under chapter 394, chapter 395, or chapter 397 and any forensic medical examination for the purpose of investigating any felony offense under chapter 784, chapter 787, chapter 794, chapter 800, or chapter 827, for himself or herself or his or her child, if the certified youth is unmarried, is the parent of the child, and has actual custody of the child.

(29) ADOPT RULES. — Adopt rules pursuant to ss. 120.536(1) and 120.54 to implement this section.

Legislative History

s. 55, ch. 2002-387; s. 3, ch. 2003-118; s. 29, ch. 2003-391; s. 27, ch. 2004-41; s. 3, ch. 2004-255; s. 8, ch. 2004-333; s. 71, ch. 2004-357; s. 11, ch. 2006-74; s. 9, ch. 2008-108; s. 2, ch. 2009-3; s. 6, ch. 2009-59; s. 2, ch. 2009-144; s. 198, ch. 2010-102; s. 2, ch. 2011-128; s. 2, ch. 2011-175; s. 4, ch. 2012-133; s. 1, ch. 2012-194; s. 3, ch. 2013-27; s. 6, ch. 2013-45; s. 39, ch. 2013-226; s. 362, ch. 2014-19; s. 15, ch. 2014-20; s. 2, ch. 2014-23; s. 1, ch. 2014-184; s. 1, ch. 2015-6; s. 2, ch. 2016-237; ss. 38, 40, ch. 2017-116; s. 7, ch. 2018-5; s. 100, ch. 2018-110; s. 6, ch. 2018-150; s. 17, ch. 2019-15; s. 2, ch. 2021-9; s. 2, ch. 2021-138; s. 71, ch. 2022-4; s. 1, ch. 2022-22; s. 5, ch. 2022-65; s. 1, ch. 2023-78; s. 3, ch. 2023-105; s. 2, ch. 2023-108; s. 11, ch. 2023-220; s. 11, ch. 2023-245; s. 70, ch. 2024-2; s. 24, ch. 2024-133; s. 1, ch. 2025-53.